Scripture: Exodus 4:18–13:16
Key Scripture: Exodus 4:18–31; 12:21–39; 13:1–10
Key Idea: God’s power brought about the Hebrew people’s freedom, and the Passover meal still celebrates the miraculous night when God protected them.
Migration Story: Ask Why? And Act
Blood. Unless you are in the medical profession, it's not something easily talked about. Yet our scriptures not only mention it frequently, but blood takes on great signficance throughout both testaments. The Hebrews' Exodus journey begins with blood on their doorposts. The blood of Jesus is an integral part of the Communion sacrament. We sing about it in familiar hymns like "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," and rousing choruses that ask "are you washed in the blood of Jesus?" In Lesson 3 we focus on God setting us free. We see that God uses courageous people like Zipporah and Moses. And we see that this freedom comes with a price—the spilling of the very life force that pulses through the veins of living creatures, culminating in the death of Jesus on the Cross. Below, PW marketing associate Carissa Herold offers her reflection.
Reflection: Surprised and Amazed
As I read scripture, I am ever taken aback by the sheer scope of ritual sacrifices that, well, bloody the pages. Can you imagine being in that place and time, actually holding that bird or lamb and making a sacrifice?
I have always lived in a city. My food, albeit the occasional homegrown tomato or pepper, has been acquired through the labor of someone else. I have happily left the “behind the scenes” bringing-it-to-my-table tasks to the many often unsung (and too often underpaid) laborers, who pick the berries, husk the corn, and, yes, slaughter the chicken I bring to the table. My point? Life, no matter how much we try to escape the gritty reality through the trappings of civilization, can be a difficult, dirty, difficult, unfair, and even bloody enterprise. And life is crazy surprising, even for the most faithful, devoted, and cautious.
Case in point: consider Exodus 4:24—“On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him.” So who is the him referred to in this scripture? Moses! Crazy surprising, right? The “I Am Who I Am” tried to kill Moses! And brace yourself for another crazy surprise! Moses was saved by (drum roll, please) yet another woman. This time, Zipporah, the wife of Moses and I might add, a Midianite, not an Israelite or an Egyptian, saved Moses. Zipporah stepped up and, with as much courage as she could muster under the circumstances, saved her husband from the wrath of God through a blood sacrifice. “But Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet with it, and said, ‘Truly you are a bridegroom of blood to me!’” (Exodus 4:25) And God “let him alone.” (Exodus 4:26) The Creator of the universe (and beyond!) was appeased through a blood offering. Crazy surprising! Or crazy surprising?
Blood is life. What is more precious, truly, than blood? Our ancient forbears, who lived much more closely to the harsher and earthier realities of life, understood this deep holiness of blood. That’s why, I think, Zipporah appealed to God with this most precious offering. Truly, what is more precious than blood? Gold? Silk? Spices? A fancy computer? Through this offering of blood, Zipporah saved Moses and the Hebrew people, too. Later, in the Passover story, God saves God’s people through the mark of blood. And even later in the scriptures, through Christ, the God of All becomes a blood offering on our behalf. Amazed.—CH
Until next time,
Susan
